I hope that all of you who celebrated Thanksgiving had a wonderful one. I, for one, am glad it’s over. I don’t know about you, but for me, the Holidays are a mixed bag. Between all the shopping, prepping and cooking, there is so much work (and stress) leading up to the big day. Then, when you finally do get to sit down to enjoy the fruits of your labor, all you can think about is that huge mess left in the kitchen and how many loads in the dishwasher it will take to get it under control. And, God forbid the rest of your dining companions don’t gush and swoon enough over your food after all of the hours and hours you spent slaving over it! You can then feel both inadequate and resentful at the same time. Did I mention that I’m a Type A personality? And, a hopeless perfectionist? In any event, it isn’t until the last pot is scrubbed and the leftovers are safely tucked away in their Tupperware containers that I can take a deep breath and relax. For me, that’s when the fun begins. That’s when I start thinking about what I’m going to conjure up with all the leftovers. read more >>

Hello and welcome to SGCC! I’m Susan, a professional writer, food columnist, recipe developer, wife, mother, daughter and sister, who used to be a lawyer in a previous life. My love of food comes from a long line of wonderful and creative Italian home cooks who didn’t always have a lot, but knew how to make a lot out of what they had. I hope that you enjoy yourself while you’re here, and visit often! read more >>